A defamation lawsuit that was filed by former San Francisco 49er Ray McDonald against a woman who accused him of rape has been dismissed by a California judge.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge William Elfving said in the ruling last week that McDonald didn't produce any acceptable evidence that the woman had talked to anyone except law enforcement officials regarding her accusations, and statements that have been given to police are considered protected speech.

McDonald's attorney, Steve Defilippis was tried to be contacted, but he did not respond. According to Gloria Allred, who is representing the woman, the ruling points towards NFL players and other celebrities and sends message that defamation suits against people reporting crimes to authorities are a strategy that no more works.

Allred said in a statement, "NFL players and other celebrities should now understand that suing persons for defamation who allege to law enforcement that they are victims of crime by NFL players or others will be a losing strategy for the celebrity".

According to the woman, in December 2014, McDonald carried her upstairs to his bedroom and raped her. She filed a lawsuit against McDonald accusing him for assault and battery, negligence, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The case is being reviewed by prosecutors after police said that the woman reported that she doesn't remember any sexual encounters after consuming alcohol, falling and fainting at McDonald's home.

The woman said that she went to police after she woke up next to McDonalds. Earlier also, McDonald was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in a separate incident.